Trump causing U.S. Secret Service cash crunch

BY ALAN GREEN

The high cost of protecting Donald Trump, his many homes and his large family has caused a cash nightmare for the U.S. Secret Service.

In an interview with USA Today, Secret Service chief Randolph “Tex” Ailes said on Tuesday the killer workload of protecting the president and his family has caused more than 1,000 agents to reach the cap on salary and overtime pay for the year. The cash crunch is expected to grow even bigger due to the expected high demand next month stemming from the arrival of 150 foreign heads of state in New York in the context of the U.N. General Assembly’s annual session.

A big traveler, Trump travels almost every week to his properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia. The Secret Service doesn’t just protect the president. His adult children are also under the shield of the service while on business trips or on vacation. A staggering number of 42 people total receive Secret Service protection under Trump, which includes 18 members of his family. By comparison, only five members of President Obama’s family received Secret Service protection.

In his interview with USA Today, Ailes said: “The president has a large family, and our responsibility is required by law.” He added: “I can’t change that, I have no flexibility.”

The service chief is asking Congress for additional funding. He says he’s in negotiations with key lawmakers to raise caps on pay and overtime from $160,000 a year to $187,000 for at least the remainder of Trump’s term.